By: Annie, Kierra and Dezrae Redemption By: Annie, Kierra and Dezrae

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REDEEM SOMETHING? Gain or regain possession of ( something ) in exchange for payment. Jesus bought us back with his love and grace. God sacrificed his son on the cross so that we could have eternal life.

Summary of Ruth’s story Ruth’s story begins with her husband and his brother dying. Her mother in law Naomi decides to return to her old home in Bethlehem. Naomi tells Ruth to return to Moab and remarry, but Ruth replies “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16) and she remains loyal to Naomi and returns with her to Bethlehem.

They arrive during the harvest and Ruth goes to work gleaning in a field belonging to Boaz, who turns out to be a close relative of Naomi’s. One day Boaz arrives in his field and inquires about Ruth, and when he hears of her loyalty and sacrifice for Naomi, he tells Ruth not to leave his field and work in another, but to stay with his servant girls and follow his harvesters. He then goes to his workers and tells them to leave loose stalks for her to gather.

Naomi tells Ruth that Boaz is their kinsman redeemer, and when Ruth reveals this to Boaz, he thanks her for seeking him out but tells her that there is a kinsman redeemer in closer relation. He promised to tell him of Ruth’s situation, and that if the man couldn’t buy the estate of Elimelech and marry Ruth, then he himself would. The next day council is held and the other kinsman redeemer is unable to marry Ruth so Boaz does. When they have a son, they name him Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who became the father of David, the line of whom Jesus descended from.

HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF IN THIS SITUATION? God reveals himself as protector and provider in Ruth’s story. Ruth leaves everything she’s ever known to stay with and comfort Naomi, and because of her loyalty God protects her and guides her by providing a kinsman redeemer, food, and accepting her into the Jewish nation through Boaz. He reveals that he is always there, and will fulfill your needs.

WHO IS GOD HERE? WHAT DOES HE DO? God is the Almighty, providing father, who redeems Naomi and Ruth’s future. He is more in the background here, but he orders the events and watches over it all, working the situation for good and making a way for Ruth to become one of His people, received and loved.

WHO ARE THE HUMAN CHARACTERS IN THIS SITUATION WHO ARE THE HUMAN CHARACTERS IN THIS SITUATION? HOW DO THEY RESPOND TO GOD? CHARACTERS: Ruth, the widow redeemed by God. Naomi, the widow who is provided for, brought back to Israel, and given a son. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer who restores Ruth and Naomi’s futures. HOW THEY RESPOND TO GOD: Ruth chooses to trust and believe in God when she says to Naomi “your God will by my God”, rejecting the way she formerly lived and deciding to follow the God of Israel.

Naomi returns to God, she had moved to Moab and was living a non-Hebrew lifestyle, and, it seems, had abandoned God. But when she had lost almost everything, she realized God could redeem her, and returned to Israel and her God. Boaz is a righteous man who follows the laws set by God and the traditions of his people, he follows God’s plan and shows compassion to Ruth; a foreigner, by marrying her to protect her and adopt her into the Hebrew family.

HOW DOES THIS SITUATION FORESHADOW WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST? Ruth’s story foreshadows salvation in that when Jesus died for us, He died for everyone, not only the Jews. Ruth is made part of the Jewish family through marriage, like how we are made part of God’s family through belief. It foreshadows how God would make it possible to accept all people, Jew and Gentile.